Sonoma Country Vacations

Archive for the ‘Local favorites’ Category

If you flush unwanted or expired medications down the toilet, you may be surprised to find you’re inadvertently medicating the wildlife in our local waterways.Â Wastewater treatment plants aren’t designed to remove synthetic medicines which can harm aquatic animals, especially at the developmental stage of their lives.Â Both over the counter and prescriptions drugs are classified as hazardous waste and should always be taken to authorized drop off sites.Â Drop offs are:Â Healdsburg CVS Drug store at 455 Center Street and the Healdsburg Police Department at 328 Center Street.Â Cloverdale at Cloverdale Pharmacy, 117 Broad Street, and Windsor at Health First 9070 Windsor Road and CVS Pharmacy at 9030 Brooks Road.

Sponsored by Sonoma County Farm Trails,Â Open Farms welcome the public Saturday Sept 26 and Sunday Sept. 27 from 10-5.Â Dozens of local farmers and artisan producers throughout Sonoma County from Healdsburg to Petaluma will open their doors to tell the behind the scenes story of local food during Weekend Along the Farm Trails.Â Tours, Artisan foods, hands-on activities, cooking, pick your own, demonstrations, music and harvest.Â From Hayrides to cheese-making — Farm Trails offers a chance to experience Sonoma County’s agricultural heritage.Â Learn how and where the food is grown, and meet those who produce it.Â Admission is free to most farms.Â Tour info and map available on www.farmtrails.org or visit Farm Trails FACEBOOK page for tales from the farms.Â 707-837-8896.

IT’S JUST OVER A WEEK AWAY!
Locals Summer Jam, August 2
The biggest summer jazz benefit in Healdsburg is coming up faster than double-time tempo. It’s the LOCALS SUMMER JAM, an afternoon of tasty barbecue, good company and great music at a private garden in Dry Creek Valley. Save the date: Sunday, August 2 from 3 – 7 pm More on our website

Just added: Noam Lemish, an incredibly gifted pianist and composer who will surely become an international name in a few short years, has just agreed to join us.

And it’s for a good cause â€” the Music in the Schools program, one of the cornerstones of the our mission. As Healdsburg High School’s music director Randy Masselink said about one aspect of the program, the Oaktown Jazz Workshops “become highlights of the school year. These are experiences that really stick with the kids and mean something to them.”

And Elizabeth Haze Vega, Healdsburg teacher, author and musician, likewise sings the praises of the festival’s educational mission. “I recognize that this wonderful program is unique to our town and is one of the finest cultural gifts Healdsburg offers to her children.”

Since 1999, our Music Education Programs have touched thousands of area school children, from elementary to high school â€” and beyond. As education budgets are cut it’s ever more important for generous people to step forward and share your support for our children’s education. More on our website

As long as you agree with that â€” let’s have some fun doing it! Gather together at the Fagan home in Dry Creek to absorb the beauty of this charming location, hear the best musicians our talented community can offer, and join like-minded music fans knowing every note you hear goes to support jazz education in our schools.

Just look at this lineup!
The lineup of local talent who will share the stage on Sunday, Aug. 2 just got better, as Noam Lemish has found time to participate before his departure for Bhutan. He’ll join our previously announced musicians Shea Breaux Wells (vocals), Susan Sutton (piano), Bill Fouty (bass), Lee Charlton (drums) Gary Johnson (saxes and flute), and, at last count, four jazz guitarists: Carl Vast, Christian Foley-Beining, David Howard, and Healdsburg High’s own Kai Devitt-Lee.

Tickets are available at this web page – but there’s a limited number available. Please, do your kids a favor and give your community the gift of music by supporting the Healdsburg Jazz Festival’s LOCALS SUMMER JAM!

Hotel Healdsburg Lobby: A full menu of local combos plays every Friday and Saturday nights at HH’s Lobby & Bar, from 7:30 – 11 pm. Some highlights: The Terry Henry Trio Aug. 1, Stephanie Ozer and Chuck Metcalf Aug. 7, and (what’s this?) Walter Savage Trio in the Lobby on Saturday, Aug. 8. Visit the website for more music at the Hotel Healdsburg Lobby.

Murphy-Goode Tasting Room: There’s no better way to greet the weekend (and say goodbye to your workweek!) than to sit in the sun at Murphy-Goode and listen to jazz. From 5 pm to about 7:30, ease into it with the Tyler Blanton Trio (July 31) the Sylvia Cuenca Trio (Aug. 7) and â€” now here’s a familiar name â€” the Walter Savage Quartet (Aug. 14). Visit the website for more info at the Murphy-Goode Tasting Room.

This is for vacation rental guests, or those guests considering vacation rental.

A vacation rental home is not a place to hold an event, such as wedding, bridal shower, rehearsal dinner, after reception get together, bachelor/bachelorette party, et cetera.Â A home is just that — a place to sleep, eat, talk, sit, play and congregate for the, and this is important — FOR THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THE HOME ACCOMMODATES on an overnight basis.

It’s precisely the abuse of this definition that has the Sonoma County Planning, Permit and Resources Department considering language to restrict vacation rentals.Â The Board of supervisors have heard, loud and very clearly, from neighbors who are tired of the excess # of cars, trash and noise in their neighborhoods from the abuse of vacation rental accommodations.

When you rent a vacation home:

1.Â Only the # of guests that the home accommodates are allowed on the premises.Â Any excess, without prior written consent of either the management or owner is a violation and illegal.Â You could be asked to immediately vacate the premises,Â and lose any security deposit that you have;

2.Â Most homes have neighbors, and whether the neighbors are 50 feet away or 5 acres away, sound carries.Â Be respectful that you are renting a home in an area that they live full time.Â They don’t come home to relax on the weekend to have to put up with excessive noise and nuisance.Â Again, this can and should result in loss of security deposit and your vacating the premises.

3.Â Trash is to be put in garbage cans.Â If you have excessive trash, it needs to be bagged and kept in a garage or inside the gates/fence so that it’s not an eyesore and that animals don’t get into it — most homes are in the country and exposed to opossums, raccoons, rats, and other critters that love to tear into garbage.

4.Â Cars — Our contracts stipulate that only the # of cars registered to the overnight guests shall be allowed at the property.Â Again, if there are more, this is a violation.Â Please be considerate of neighbors’ right of way!Â They have to go back and forth from and to their homes — they’re not on vacation.Â You wouldn’t like them clogging up your neighborhood with their friends, please give them the same consideration.

“Don’t know where to take the family out for the day, away from the city?”

If you are in the bay area, and you need a day trip but don’t know where to go or what to do….How about taking your family on a canoe adventure down the Russian River?It is a lot of fun and highly recommend it to anyone; especially beginners.Even if it is your first time ever, there’s no doubt that you will make it through without any problem at all.

You can get away from the city hustle and bustle for a day, but the memories will last for many years.Enjoy the different birds chirping and the sound of the Russian River waters flowing….along the way see squirrels, and turtles.

45 dollars for adults and 22 for kids under 12.You can fit 2 adults and 2 small children comfortably and they even allow you to bring your doggy with you! 🙂

You meet at Healdsburg a bit before 10AM

You walk 5 minutes to the river and get on your canoe after a short introduction, rules, advice.

After about 4-5 hours, you reach the destination where they pick you up and drive you back to your car.

You do need to paddle about two thirds of the time, but the river is very gentle and should be no problem for beginners.

I recommend buying sandwiches, drinks, and sweets (don’t forget plenty fluids!) and stashing them in a cooler.We had lunch in the canoe along the way.You can swim in the river too.On occasion, you might hit a tree or a branch but that’s normal – nothing to fret over. You can just get off the canoe and pull it through the difficult parts of it.Kids require life vests, and the canoe tipping over is a very rare occurrence.

They even provide you with a dry bag to keep your belongings dry.All you need to do is bring food, drinks, cooler, sunscreen and even a hat if you tan fast.

Evening walks are great this time of year as the weather warms up during the day the evenings cool breezes help you to unwind and enjoy the settings. There are many great places for a stroll such as downtown Healdsburg including up Matheson St. and Tucker St. where the historical homes are. Lake Sonoma is also a great place with some quick walks around the hatchery area or a longer walk on some of the trails. Just do not forget you mosquito repellent if you venture out to the rural areas! Enjoy!

If you are in Healdsburg, you are in the perfect place for a last minute picnic!Â There are over a dozens tasting rooms within the plaza area that you can taste, then buy a bottle of wine to go.Â Your best bets for a delicious gourmet sandwich, salad, even cheese would be to stop by either the Oakville Grocery (plaza area), Costeaux’s French Bakery (plaza area), the Dry Creek General Store (dry creek road, at lambert bridge), or the Jimtown Store (hwy 128, hbg).Â There are several wineries that have picnic tables for you to use at your convenience.Â Some even will allow you to bring along your four legged best friend!Â Feel free to ask any of us in the office for advice on where to go or what we recommend.Â Of course we can provide directions and maps to help guide you there safely.Â So don’t be shy and feel free to ask us, we can definitely find the perfect spot for your picnic in the wine country!

Don’t forget to stop by the plaza on Tuesdays 4pm to 6:30pm, and Saturday’s 9am to 12pm noon.Â This wonderful farmers market offers a wide variety of stands that will definitely keep you busy and entertained.Â ;Just to name a few, there are fresh fruits, vegetables, organic vegetables, cheese, coffee beans, antiques, plants, flowers, clothes, jewelry, most especially local products!Â Starts in May and goes until November.Â Hope to bump into you there at the plaza!Â Thank you very much for supporting the community.

Will you be visiting Sonoma County soon, and you don’t want to leave your four-legged best friend behind?No problem!

Various establishments in Sonoma County understand you and your dog’s needs, and there are plenty of activities within the county that are dog friendly. I certainly understand how hard it is to leave your pet dog home alone, as I am a dog owner as well. I understand how important it is to be able to include your pet dog in your plans, and we’d like to share a few options you might like to consider as you head up to Sonoma Countyâ€¦

There are a number of dog-friendly wineries. A few wineries out here have canine companions to greet guests with a big smile as they arrive! These friendly creatures will charm you with their cute and friendly demeanor, and all they ask is that you enjoy your stay at their humble abode! If you will be in the Healdsburg area, we highly recommend that you visit Foppiano Vineyards, Forth Vineyards, Mutt Lynch Winery and Lambert Bridge Winery. There’s a wonderful picnic area with umbrellas at Lambert Bridge Winery, so don’t forget to bring food and a few treats for your doggy!

If you would like to dine at Healdsburg Plaza, there are a few restaurants that will allow you to bring your pet dog with you as long as you dine in their outdoor area. Sitting at the outdoor area is ideal when it’s sunny, and it’s a great way to experience and appreciate the beauty of this small town. There are always a lot of people walking their dogs at the plaza, so your pet will surely make a friend or two.

If you would just like to take your dog to the park, The Sonoma County Regional Parks Department allows dogs in all the county’s parks, excluding Healdsburg Veterans Memorial Beach, Spring Lake Regional Park and the hiking trails at Shiloh Regional Park. Just a reminder, your pets must always be on a leash for safety, and please donâ€™t forget to pick up after them as well.

Lastly, we do have several vacation home rentals that can accommodate your pet, so please check with our Healdsburg Property Mgmt. and/or Sonoma County Vacations reservations/sales team for more information and details.

Farmers market season is coming up and Healdsburg has a great farmers market! It runs twice weekly once on TuesdayÂ andÂ once on Saturday. Tuesdays the market is located in the Plaza and runs from 4-6:30 pm from June 2 through October and the Saturday market runs 9am -12pm at North and Vine St from May 2 through November. Come and support the local farmers by shopping here! There is lots of great produce, crafts and treats for everyone!